Flexible disk harrow



Nov. 3, 1953 1 F, RUDE ETAL 2,657,511

A FLEXIBLE DISK HRROWk Filed Feb. 1l, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l o /NvE/vroJOHN F. RUDE F|G 2 ALvAN v. BuRcH Nov. 3, 1953 J. F. RUDE ET AL FLEXIBLEDISK HARRow 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. ll, 1950 Hfmm EC f DR N UU Rnwyo:..vffn N 4 mw.

Patented Nov. 3, 1953 FLEXIBLE DISK HARRW John F. Rude and Alvan V.Burch, Evansville, Ind., assignors to Burch Plow Works, Inc.,Evansville, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application February 11,1950, Serial No. 143,775

3 Claims. y

1 This invention relates to disc harrows of the tandem type, and moreparticularly to tandem harrows adapted to be attached to a power liftAon a tractor for raising the harrow from the ground, particularlyduring transportation of the harrow.

Tandem disc harrows that are adapted to be attached to a power lift of atractor have normally been provided with a rigid frame from which thedisc gangs are suspended so that the frame could be lifted directly inthe rear of the tractor and be supported rigidly while transporting theharrow. A rigid frame type of tandem disc harrow presents no particulardiiiiculties when the harrow is inV raised position since the rigidframe cannot swing about when supported in lifted position.

However, rigid frame tandem harrows have certain disadvantages in theirflexibility of movement over the ground, or in turning corners orturning at the end of `a field during harrowing, so that it is desirableto have a tandem harrow with a rear disc gang that is movable relativeto the front disc gang to provide for ease of turning corners whendragging the harrow behind a tractor.

Such flexible tandem harrows, however, present a problem when it isdesired to attach such harrows to the power lift of a tractor for thereason that with the rear gang free to move relative to the front gangin a sidewise direction, when the harrow is lifted from the ground, therear gang can swing from one side to another, thus causing a dangerouscondition when transporting such harrows on the road. A

Also, it is desirable to limit the amount of rotation permissible of therear disc gang of a tandem disc harrow to prevent the rear gang fromstriking the front gang when sharp corners are turned while dragging theharrow over the ground.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a tandem discharrow in which the rear disc gang is free for movement relative to thefront disc gang in a sidewise direction, and which movement iscontrolled within predetermined limits to prevent the rear gang fromstriking the front gang regardless of the sharpness of turn taken by atractor while pulling the harrow over the ground. y

It is another object of the invention to provide a tandem disc harrow inaccordance with the foregoing object wherein means is provided on thefront disc gang to control the amount of sidewise movement of the reardisc gangrelative to 2 the front disc gang when the harrow is drawn overthe ground.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a locking devicethat extends between the front disc gang and the rear disc gang whichwill prevent any sidewise movement of the rear disc gang relative to thefront disc gang when the harrow is in lifted position relative to thetractor to which the harrow is attached.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a tandem disciharrow in accordance with the foregoing object wherein the lockingdevice detachably connects the rear disc gang with the front disc gangof the harrow.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the drawingsand the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective elevational view of a tandem Ydisc harrowincorporating the features of this invention;

Figure 2 is an elevational plan view of the tandem disc harrowillustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the portion of the harrowillustrated in Figure 1, showing particularly the locking device betweenthe front and rear disc gangs and the device for controlling sidesway ofthe rear disc gang'relative tothe front disc gang.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the mechanism for angling the gangs.

In this invention the tandem disc harrow consists of a front disc gang Aand a rear disc gang B. The front disc gang A consists of the twoseparate disc gangs Ill and II. Similarly, the rear disc gangconsistsvof the separate disc gangs I2 and I3.

The front disc gangs I9 and II are connected with a draft frame I4 bymeans of outer draft links I5 and inner draft links I6. The inner draftlinks I6 are movable relative to the draft frame I4 by means of'a linkI'I that is connected with a hand-operated screw I8 that cooperates witha nut I9 secured to the draft frame I4. Thus, operation of the screw I8causes oscillation of the link I'I about a pivot 20. Inward and outwardmovement of the lower end of the link Il produces angling orstraightening of the gangs I6 and II.

The rear gangs I2 and I3 are connected with a triangular shaped draftframeZI that has the forward end 22 pivotally carried on the plate 23that connects with the forward draft frame lli.

The outer ends of the disc gangs I2 and I3fare connected with the draftframe 2l by means of draft links 24. The inner ends of the gangs I2 andI3 are connected with draft links 25 and 26 which in turn are connectedwith a movable bar 21 that reciprocates on the bar 88 whereby movementof the bar 21 causes angling or straightening of the rear gangs I2 andI3.

The forward end of the bar 21 is'. connected with the upper end'ofthelink I1' by means of a link 16. Thus, oscillation of the link I1 aboutthe pivot 2l) produces simultaneous angling orfstraightening of thefront yand rean gangs A` and B.

The tandem disc harrow-is:adaptedttozbefcon nected to a power lift ofatractori For this purpose the forward draft are provided pins 28. Thepins 28 are connected frame I 4-tisprovidedwith a lift frame 11 at thelowerendsfof which-.there Cil with the lift bars 29 that extendrearwardly from'.i Y

the power lift of a tractor, and the upper end 66 of the lift'fram'e-:.11 connects; with; a lift bar 30 that extends from the power liftofiastractor'.

Tdprovidefor lifting of therear gang-.B with lifting" of? the,` front:ygang -r A;` the 1 draft frame 2 I has the :rear :framevbar: 31 thereofconnected; with the upper end. EB' of: the? forward dift frame 11 bymeans :oftconnectingflinks 32 and33. Thus, lifting -zof thek-forwardidraftz frame I4iby thedifting mechanism` will .cause` liftingof the rear draft frame 21a Since: thev yrear :draftfframev'ZI is:pivotallyy connectediwithzthe. forward?. draft frame I 4, as.heretoforedescribedyitwill beil apparent that when a turn is made by atractor: drawing the harrow overthefground; that thereary draft frame 2land `the;disc.1gang `B w-ill swing fromone lside-toY the other relativeto the forward disc gang A, depending on the direction of turn that is`taken bythe tractor;` This riss an advantageous feature in that muchzofthefturningfdrag of .the rear disc gang is eliminated, that is,relatively speaking, as vcompared to the" turning drag created bytherear gang :of aatandem disc-harrowin i'whichthe rear disci gangisfsrigidl-yipositioned. onA theY harrow frame relativetou-.thel forwardf disc; gang,

However; wheniimaking` extremely sharp turns withgatractor;the-freedomof. movementof the in'gzthe degree ofturning angularity that can be.

taken -by rthe'reardraft frame' 2l relative yto .the forwardv draftframe:- I 4; The limiting. angle. stops 40;and-14I/thus prevent thereardisc gangs I2 and"I3from-strikingthe-front disc gangs lland I Irespectively whenever while-drawingthe disc harrow .over Athe ground..

When-l theforward :and ,rear gangs are angled, asillustrated in Figurel, there-is need to restr-ict the side swing of the rear gang about thevfront gangto-agreater degree than when'the'gangs arev straight asthere-is less distance `between the forward andrear gangs at this time`Withtheforward'ldisc gangs connectedv to the forward Adraft frame I4nearthe outer endsof the disc gangs l0 and `I I, the angle stops 40 and4Iwill"lrctatefin` .an arc about the connections of the disc gangs Ithetractor makes a turn.

50 the lock-bar 511 lwhen the bar is in inactive posi- `tion. shown .indot-dash lines in Figure-3;

and II with the forward draft frame I4v when the gangs are moved fromtheir straight position to an angled position. Thus, the angle stops 40and 4I will approach the sides 44 and 45 of the triangularly shaped reardraft frame when the front gangs I6 and Il are angled so that therewillfbefa.greatersrestriotion or limitation on the amount of pivotalmovement that can occur between the rear draft frame 2| and the forwarddraft frame I4 when the forward gangs I0 and I I are in .their` angledposition.

The flexibility of the rear disc gang B relative to the frontdisc gangA, as carried by the respective draftframes. -2I and I4 produces anotherlproblem when the'tandem harrow is in position liftedfrom the ground bythe tractor power lift for transporting the harrow. This problem isthat'lwith the rear draft frame 2l pivotally connected to the forwarddraft frame I4, the rear draft-.frame 2-I can swing fromone sidetoanother freelyl whenfthetandemharrow is in liftedposition, beinglimitedonly in itsswinging movement by the angle stops vand 4I on thefront disc gangs-mand I-I- as-heretofore described.` However, thisswinging movement produces a dangerous-condition when-.transporting suchavharrow on a public road.v

To prevent such swinging movement when the harrow isin lif-tedpositionfor transportation, a lockfbar-50 is carriedon eitheror both of the sideframebars'iflandflof. the rear draft frame 2 I-. This-lockbar is lmoreparticularly..illustrated in Figure 3 wherein .thelock bar. 50 isillustrated attached to thesidezframe bar of the rear draftframe 2-I.

The lock bar is a U -shaped bar having short depending legs..5land 52..at each endof the bar. The dependingleg 5i -is .positioned within anVeye -53-formed-by. a..meta1.'tube suitably welded to rthedraft-frame-'bar 45; The depending leg 5I is somewhatflonger than thedepending leg 52' so that--the-lock-bar ilcanbe elevated fromutheposition shown inFigure 3 .to remove-the depending leg52-from .themetaltube eye 54 suitably welded to the frame bar 43 of the disc gang II.Aeotter pin55 extends through the depending leg 5I..to preventaccidental`removal of the lockbar-..50 fromthe frame member 45.

The-framemember- 45Qis also provided with a tubular eye 56 .to .receivethe depending leg 52of Whenthe .tandem..disc harrow is to betransported, the gangs A and B are placed imposition y with theaxes` of.thecooperating bars of each gang, A and.. BI in.. alignment.

The lock-bar is thenplacedinthe*position illustrated in Figure. With.the reardraft frame 2l thus connectedwith the framemember .ofthe.forward disc gang, it is apparent that the rear disc gang 2l cannotswing from-.one side to anotherfwhen the disc harrow is inelevated.position so .thatat this time the draft frame .2l .becomes immovable orrigid with the forward ydraft .frame I 4."

Whenthe .lock bar 5Il`is notin use, itis placed vinthe, position shownin dot-dash lines in Figure While `;-.the,.-apparatus disclosed anddescribed herein illustrates `a preferred form. of the linvention, yetmechanical.r alterations can be'. rnade without departingfrom thespiritvof .the invention,- and all=rnodifications thatfallwithin thescope-ofy 'thevappended-r claims yareintended to be includedherein.

Having thus fully described our invention, what We claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a tandem harrow, a pair of forward disc gangs operably connectedwith a forward draft frame land moveable relative thereto, a pair ofrear disc gangs operably connected with a substantially triangularlyarranged rear draft frame, said rear draft frame including pivot meansat an apex of the frame pivotally connecting the same to said forwarddraft frame for complete freedom of horizontal movement of said reardraft frame and the disc gangs connected therewith about the forwarddisc gangs and the draft frame operably connected therewithindependently thereof, and stop means on said forward disc gangspositioned adjacent opposite sides of said rear draft frame moveablewith said forward disc gangs relative to said reary draft frame andengageable thereby to reducingly limit pivotal rotation of said reardraft frame and the gangs connected therewith about the forward discgangs upon increasing angling thereof.

2. In a tandem harrow, a forward draft frame, a pair of forward discgangs each including a frame member, means operably connecting each ofsaid disc gangs near their outer ends with said forward draft frame,means operably connecting the inner ends of each of said forward gangswith said draft frame and including means for angling of said forwarddisc gangs relative to said draft frame, a pair of rear disc gangs, agenerally triangularly shaped rear draft frame, means operablyconnecting the outer ends of each of said rear disc gangs with said reardraft frame, means connecting the inner ends of each of said rear discgangs with said draft frame and including means for angling of said reardisc gangs relative to said rear draft frame, said rear draft framehaving the apex portion thereof pivotally connected with said forwarddraft frame, said frame members of each of said forward gangs eachhaving a projectionV thereon adjacent the sides of the triangularlyshaped rear draft frame for engagement thereby upon rotation of saidrear draft frame about said forward draft frame, said projections beingmovable with said forward gangs upon angling thereof about theirconnections at the outer ends 6 thereof with said forward draft framewhereby to cause said projections to approach the sides of saidtriangularly shaped rear draft frame and reducingly limit pivotalrotation of said rear draft frame about said forward draft frame uponangling of said foward disc gangs.

3. In a tandem harrow, a forward disc gang mechanism including a draftframe operably connected therewith, a rear disc gang mechanism includinga second draft frame operably connected therewith, said second draftframe including pivot means connecting the same to the forward draftframe for complete freedom of pivotal movement thereabout independentlythereof, means forming a lift frame connected with said forward draftframe and said second draft frame and adapted to be connected with apower lift for elevating the harrow from the ground, and rigid linkmeans forming a rigid detachable connection extending angularly betweensaid mechanisms to maintain said second frame and the disc gangconnected therewith in a fixed horizontal position relative to saidforward disc gang with the link means extending therebetween when theharrow is in lifted position, said link means comprising a, U- shapedmember supported removably in sockets on one of said mechanisms, andsocket means on the other of the mechanisms to detachably receive oneend of said link means.

JOI-IN F. RU'DE. ALVAN V. BURCI-I.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date Re. 22,333 White June 8, 1943 Re. 22,627 McKay Apr. 3, 19451,156,611 Michael Oct. 12, 1915 1,443,364 Heylman Jan. 30, 19231,489,020 Smith Apr. 1, 1924 1,621,622 Brenneis Mar. 22, 1927 1,725,409Mowry et al. Aug. 20, 1929 1,830,993 Furrer Nov. 10, 1931 2,164,550Steward July 4, 1939 2,584,238 Sonneman Feb. 5, 1952

